Modern Myth: The Hook. This is only a story...isn't it?

Modern Myth: The Hook. This is only a story...isn't it?

A young married couple after leaving a late night party try and get home quicker in their car by taking a short cut down a muddy country lane. Due to all the rain and mud splashing into the engine this causes the car to falter and finally break down. They phone the AA who they have breakdown cover with and who in response inform them that they will arrive within the hour.

Totally alone and with only a cold winter’s moon to provide any light the couple decide to stay in the car. The howling wind outside reminds them of their isolation, for comfort they switch on the radio and tune into a local station.

After fifteen minutes or so, a news report informs them that a patient from the nearby Institute for the Criminally Insane has escaped. Ten years ago a fisherman killed all his sea crew with a large fishing hook and he has now cut off his own right hand and replaced it with a similar metal hook.

The interrupted music begins to play again and both Mark and Joanne with some forced humorous comments, relax waiting for the vehicle repairman to arrive.

There is a faint sound of twigs snapping and rustling of leaves heard in the far distance, which is thought to be an owl or harmless night-time animal foraging for food. Then it is heard again, only this time much closer than before. But nothing can be seen in the utter darkness.

The car seems to move ever so slightly, was that the wind or was someone trying to lift it up? Someone with extreme violent strength? Where is that repairman?

Mark now decides to see if he can restart the car on his own, turning the ignition and pressing down on the clutch over and over again…until suddenly the engine growls angrily into life and they speed away down the lane, finally onto a main road and they eventually reach home.

As Mark gets out of the car and begins to open the opposite door to let his wife out, he stops frozen. Swaying gently on the door handle, making a faint clinking noise, is a bright silver hook…